Travels and Travails....

RACE REPORT

2009-06-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

It's long....so read as much or as little as you want! Picture at bottom!

Ironman Coeur d’Alene – June 21, 2009

I arrived in Coeur d’Alene (CDA) on Wednesday. It was raining. I wasn’t too excited to see those weather conditions, but there wasn’t anything I could do to change that! I arrived in the evening. I decided that I would go take a look at the lake where I would be swimming. The scenery was beautiful! The lake is nestled between some mountains, making for a beautiful setting for the swim portion of the race.

Thursday morning, I got up and headed to the lake for a practice swim. The water was pretty choppy b/c it was quite windy. Fortunately, in my open water swims at home, the last one I did was in rough water so this was no shock to my system. I kind of freak out the first time I’m in a new body of water so I was glad that I could be there early enough to get a swim in. It didn’t take too long for me to get comfortable in the water. Thursday I just did a short swim so that I could get used to it. On Thursday afternoon, I drove back to Spokane to pick up my friend, Billy, from the airport. He was initially going to do the race but opted out about 8 weeks before the race. He decided he would come anyway to support me.

Once back in CDA, we headed down to take care of getting me registered. I got all my race gear (swim cap, athlete wristband, timing chip, and race info) and also picked up my bike, which I had transported up there. Next stop was the race day wheels tent, where I would swap out my regular wheels for a set of race wheels. These wheels are lighter weight and help in overall performance. While we were waiting for the wheels to get put on, we went back to the hotel to get running clothes on. After arriving back down at the expo area, I picked up my bike, put it in the car, and we headed out for a light 5 mile run. It was cool out, but not too bad.

On Friday morning, I went back to the lake and did a 30 minute swim in the water. The currents were tough to swim against because it was very windy. The course is set up as a large rectangle – 900 meters out, 130 meters across, and 900 meters back to shore. That is done twice in the race. I didn’t swim all the way out before cutting across the course and back. Coming back with the current was sure a nice change to fighting the current! The water was about 63 or 64 degrees on Friday. That is a pretty nice water temperature when you have a wetsuit on! I felt really good in the water and much more confident than the first time I got in!

After the swim and getting cleaned up, Billy and I decided to drive the bike course. Wow. I had no idea how hilly it was! This was probably a good thing because I may have opted for a different race. The first part of the bike course, which is also a 2-loop course, was along the shores of the lake with one pretty good climb both on the way out and on the way back in. The course winds through several residential streets before meeting up with the lake. This portion is an out and back, coming back into town and then heading north back out of town again. The course ‘flattens’ out for several miles before the hills really kick in! There are a lot of false flats on the course! As we were driving along, we got to the town of Hayden, which surrounds Hayden Lake. This is an absolutely beautiful part of the bike course. Some pictures I will post later will give you an idea of the scenery! While the beauty was amazing, the hills were something I could tell I would not be looking forward to! I had done a lot of hills in my training, so I knew I could handle it, I just wasn’t aware that there was so much of it out on the course! The hilly portion lasts about 30-35 miles (of a 56 mile loop)! The course then flattens back out and heads back to town. After driving the course, I figured that even if I was slow, at least it was beautiful and I could enjoy that aspect of the race!

Friday night was the welcome banquet – a pasta dinner and a short program, followed by an athlete meeting. They just covered the course and final dos and don’ts for race day.

On Saturday, I took my bike out for a 30 minute spin to make sure everything was in working order. I had run into another girl I knew and she happened to be staying in the same hotel, so we rode together, which was great! After we got off our bikes, we jumped into our running shoes and did a 15 minute run. My legs felt great! This was re-assuring because for about the last 5 weeks, I had been having a lot of knee pain. I didn’t feel any of that, which was great! I also spent some time Saturday morning putting all my gear together. In a full-Ironman race, you have different gear bags – one for the swim to bike transition, which has all your bike gear in, one for bike to run, which has your running gear in, and then you have two optional bags that you can put food or clothing in for ½ way through the bike and run courses. Volunteers will hand you those bags as you pass by that station on the course. My bike and gear bags had to be down to the transition area on Saturday afternoon. Once I was all set with getting my things together, Billy and I went down and dropped everything off. It is amazing to see over 2000 bikes all in the same place! Millions of dollars of bikes were there! There are security guards that keep watch over night so that nothing disappears.

My down time for the rest of the day was spent resting at the hotel.

My friend, Mark, arrived early Saturday evening and when he got there the three of us headed to the Olive Garden for one last pasta meal! Our wait was short and we had a nice meal together. We all headed back to the hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Of course, I did not sleep at all that night, in anticipation of racing the next morning. This is common for me. My nerves always get the best of me. I didn’t really have any nerves until Saturday night, which was great!

Now, for RACE DAY!!!

My alarm stirred me at 4:15 AM. I hadn’t slept, so it was more a matter of waiting to get up until the alarm actually sounded. I immediately got up and gathered my racing clothes and got changed and ready to go. The forecast was grim – 62 and windy with PM showers. I got myself bundled up and ready before I woke up the others (who I’m certain were already awake, just not stirring!). With a few additional supplies, my wetsuit, swim cap, and goggles, I was ready to head down to the race site. Phew, my nerves were kicking into high gear! It was very cold and windy outside. Every flag that was flying was perfectly perpendicular to the flag pole! Mark drove me down to the site, with Billy coming a bit later. I went and added my water bottles to my bike and made sure my tires still had air in them. Everything was in good condition so I found a patch of grass to do some light stretching before putting on my wetsuit. I could see the water and it was fairly choppy. The good news, however, was that the water was 65 degrees – which was much warmer than the air temperature at 6 AM! The professional athletes started the swim at 6:25, with the rest of the athletes (myself) at 7 AM. A mass swim start is a pretty impressive thing to watch! I have watched many of them and am always in awe. Because I have seen so many, this is what made me most nervous about my day. 2166 athletes started the race. That is a LOT of people all swimming at the same time in the same place. I opted to stay on the beach for a few seconds to let the masses get started and then I headed into the water. I was surprised to not be anxious in the water. Even with all the people around me, I was able to keep myself together mentally. The first 500 meters or so was tough with all the people surrounding me. Every time I saw a pair of feet heading toward my face, I slowed down my stroke a notch to avoid a broken nose or black eye! Getting to the first turn wasn’t too bad but then we had all those people trying to get around the buoy in a very small space, so it took some maneuvering to get around without getting pummeled. The same thing occurred trying to get around the second turn buoy. Heading back to shore on the first lap was a nice change because now the current was carrying me back toward the shore. The only thing I had to do was swim and try to avoid getting hit by another athlete. Once back to the shore, I had to get out of the water, run across the timing mat, and then get back in the water and do the lap a second time. The second lap was a little harder because there were less people to dissipate the forces of the current and now I was left to face it on my own. Somehow I managed! My second lap was a little slower than the first, but I made it out of the water in 1:28. This was about 13 minutes off of what I thought I would be able to swim it in. However, I gave myself 90 minutes, so I was under my overall goal time! Getting out of the water was the thing I was most concerned about with the race. I knew that if I could survive the swim, I would be fine for the rest of the day! Mission accomplished! (and it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated it would be!)

On to the bike…..I raced through transition to get my cycling gear on. Really, all I had to do was to put my socks and shoes on, as well as my helmet and sun glasses. I ran out of the change tent and towards my bike. I initially ran past my bike and had to do a quick turnaround! I was grateful for a volunteer who helped me out with that one! As soon as I got the line where I could mount my bike, I did. And I was off. The adrenaline was pumping for sure! I tried to get some nutrition in my system right away so I would have strength to pedal fast! My first 56 mile loop was awesome! I averaged about 18.25 mph. This was really good for me, considering the climbing that I had to do. Climbing isn’t exactly my strong point! My second lap was a bit slower (is there a pattern here?!). The wind had picked up another notch and I also wasn’t on top of my nutrition as well as I should have been. At one point, I decided eating something was probably a good idea. As soon as I got some food in me, I was full of energy and started passing people like crazy! That is a great feeling! The last 20 miles of the bike portion of the race were strong. Not too bad considering there was a total of 112 miles to bike! Despite the hills, this was one of the most scenic rides I have done. I really enjoyed taking in the sights even when I was pushing my physical limits. One of my goals, which came from my coach, was to make every mile count. I felt like I did that. I even found it in me to smile as I was cruising along! I had a great time on the bike course!

And then the run….this was a two loop course as well. I felt really strong coming off the bike and on to the run. I paid close attention to my heart rate, as I knew that if I pushed too much in the beginning, I would lose it before I made it to the end. It started getting cooler as I progressed through the first half of the marathon. The hill that leads up to the turn- around point was a killer! I was just glad I didn’t have to run all the way to the top of that blasted hill! J Coming back down gave me some great momentum and I was right at 2 hours at the 13 mile mark. Unfortunately, at the 12 mile mark, the rain started coming down. I was getting cold really fast. I was just racing in my race tank top. There is an area called ‘special needs’, where volunteers handed us our bags which we had packed with various things we thought we might like to have along the course. I knew there was a possibility for rain so I put in a long sleeve shirt along with some food. When I got to the special needs station (about mile 14.5) I had them give me my bag. I got my shirt out, left the food, and carried on my way. That shirt kept me warm for a bit…until it got so wet that it was cold! I had some really strong miles throughout the second half of the run. Every once in a while, I would feel this surge of energy and I would kick it up a notch. And then…the final 4.25 miles came and I lost it. I still don’t know if it was just that I was cold, that I knew I would beat my goal time, or that I just was exhausted that the last 4 miles took me so long. I went from a 9+ minute mile to a 13 +minute mile. No bueno. I was running along and then, seemingly for no reason, I would stop and walk. I got tired of walking through puddles, so I would start running again. It was all I could do to keep running, which I didn’t do a very good job of. HOWEVER, I heard the finish line music and knew I was almost there. The race finishes on a downhill!!!! Once I hit the top of that hill, I cruised into the finish line. “Judy Stowers from Mesa, AZ – YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” The clock read 12:20:53. I had done it! My first Ironman! That was an amazing moment! I thought it would take me 13 hours, so I was SO HAPPY with this time!

The finish line was a bit of a blur. I was freezing cold and just about all I could think about was getting warm. The volunteers put a Mylar blanket around me, a medal around my neck, handed me a t-shirt and hat, and then I was off to get my picture taken. My friends Billy and Mark were there at the finish line to greet me. My sister and her family were waiting just down the way! It was SO great to have my support team there! I can’t imagine finishing a race like this with no one there to see you at the end! I was super grateful for their support and being willing to stick out the weather to see me come across the line. At that point, it was still all about the rain – no sunshine in sight!

Well, after I finished, I had a piece of pizza – that never tasted so good! I met my family and friends outside the athlete area. We went and got my bike and gear bags and then headed back to the hotel to get warm and changed. Phew! What a day!!!!

So….some final tidbits from the day….

Out on the bike course, I loved seeing the little kids out helping! They were so great! All the volunteers were great, but these kids just brought a smile to my face every time I saw them! Someone had dressed up as Elmo and was out playing the drums in their front yard – very fun!

On the run course – chocolate chip cookies and coke! When they weren’t soggy from the rain, just a bite gave me the boost I needed before I got to the next aid station!

The best? If I had to choose one thing, it would be making it out of the water alive and with nothing broken or bruised! OR – having people there to support me! OR burning over 7200 calories over the course of the 140.6 miles! J

The worst? The rain – that made for a very long second half of the marathon.

Would I do it again? I don’t know yet. I think with different weather, I could break 12 hours, but weather is nothing you can control so there would never be any guarantees. For now, one is enough. I am open to the possibility of another.

Overall, I just had a great time racing. It was very fun. I have said it over and over again that racing was way more fun than training! However, the long hours of training certainly paid off in the end! It was an awesome experience for me and I’m really grateful that I was able to accomplish this goal! I do have to say, that I could never have done it without my coach, Nick Goodman with Durapulse. He was SO great! He always encouraged me through my training when I was having a hard week and was always ready to compliment when I had a strong week. Thanks, coach!

I’m not exactly sure what is next on the horizon. I don’t know what I will do with all my spare time and I will be happy to be able to spend/save money in ways other than on training supplies!

(I’m sure there are things I forgot to add, but you should get the idea!)

My official finish picture!!!

Racing, Moving, Playing!

2009-06-14T20:59:00.001-07:00

So, I haven't posted in a while so it is time for a brief update.

I am ONE WEEK away from my race in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho! I can hardly believe it! 24 weeks of training all coming down to one day of racing! Mentally, I am in a very good spot for racing. I have put in the time and effort for a great race. I've had a minor set-back with my running. I started having some knee pain about a month ago and it has not resolved itself yet. I'm doing my best to keep it as healthy as possible so that i can finish the race. The doctor says it is muscular and not structural, which is a good thing. It only hurts on the run. As long as I have a good, strong swim and bike, I will make it through the run - somehow! I'm just keeping my fingers crossed! I am excited to do the race - and more excited to be done with all the training!

I am in 'taper' mode, which means that my workouts are minimal this week so that my body hits its peak just in time for the race. It is nice to scale back a bit! I leave for Idaho on Wednesday! It is almost here! I can hardly believe it!

In other news, I moved two weeks ago! I now live in Mesa, in a little condo. I decided it was time for a change and that moving might be a good start. I'm living alone in a little 2 bedroom condo. I like that it also has an attached garage - somewheret to keep my bikes! :) It has been an adventure getting settled b/c I didn't have anything really of my own. So, new kitchen everything, new table and chairs, new vacuum, new side tables and coffee table, and so on. When I get back from the race, I will go find a new bed! Thank heavens for Ikea! It is a great way to get started on a budget! :) There is a lot I miss about living in Tempe, and living with Amy. It was a great place to be and Amy has been an amazing roommate for all these years. It is certainly an adjustment, but I like my little place and am getting used to calling it home!

I spent Memorial Day weekend at Lake Powell (after a quick trip to Idaho for my oldest niece's high school graduation). There were about 60 of us with 2 houseboats, 5 boats, and 4 jet skis. Despite the rainy weather, we had a great time! I made some new friends which was just an added bonus to the weekend! I enjoy being on the water and couldn't quite get enough! Pictures below! I am blessed to be able to get out an enjoy the outdoors!

That's it for today! I'll be sure to report on the race next time around!

My last long ride....

2009-04-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

well, at least it is the last long ride with good weather! The heat is coming to the desert, which makes for some grueling hours on the bike. The combination of heat and long hours on the bike typically isn't a good combination for me. I've learned to do better with hydration, but it is still hard for me. It really has been amazing, however, that we have had such good weather up until this point. Typically, it is much warmer by this time of the year than it has been. I count that as a blessing! We will creep in to the upper 90's next week.

I rode 77 miles today. That is a short ride considering what is to come. I'll be up at 100+ on the bike in the next two weeks. I will stay at that for several weeks before I start tapering for the race. Doesn't that sound like fun??!! I did a lot of climbing today, which is always helpful. Not fun, but helpful! I got a flat on the way back down 9-mile hill. Another rider was kind enough to stop and help me, which turned out to be a blessing b/c i had some malfunction with my CO2 cartridge. If he hadn't of stopped, it could have been ugly!

I'm sure my run yesterday was my last long run with good weather, too! I will have to start getting up REALLY early to get my workouts done. I'll adjust!

9 weeks until the big race!

70.3 miles!

2009-04-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 4th, I competed (I use that term loosely!) in the Ironman California 70.3 race. This is considered a 1/2 Ironman, which consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. It was held in Oceanside, CA - just north of San Diego.

I had a pretty darn good race! My swim was slower than I anticipated it would be, and slower than I thought I was swimming! I had to take a quick stop a few hundred yards into it and have one of the lifeguards help me adjust my wetsuit. I felt like I was choking because it was too tight around my neck. Once she loosened it up for me, I felt much better! It's hard to be confident in the water (especially open water - and the ocean!) when you don't feel like you can breathe! 44 minutes to do the swim.

The bike course is mostly out on Camp Pendleton. It is BEAUTIFUL!!! The first half is flat and usually fast, with the second half being quite hilly. Well, it was windy all day and not too many times was the wind coming from behind. I have done a lot of training in the wind lately so it didn't seem too bad. I felt strong on the bike. 3:02 to bike.

The run was ok. I didn't have any stomach issues this year, which was a blessing! I felt pretty good on the first lap. The second lap found me slowing down a bit. It was a mental game at that point. We had to run 1/4 mile, each direction, each lap, on the sand. This was not my idea of fun for a race! So, it was a total of a mile on the sand. Some of it was hard packed, but a good portion of it was soft. It made it an additional challenge on the run. The course is fairly flat, but after a hilly bike course, those little hills felt like mountains!

Overall, I was really happy with the results. I finally broke my 6 hour barrier, finishing in 5:54:40! That smashes my previous time by 23 minutes! I was happy about that! I finished 39th out of 142 in my age division.

It was great to have three friends out there with me to cheer me on, as well as other teammates. We had a great little condo right on the beach and close to all the race action, which was great! The extra support out on the course is SO helpful to keeping my head in the game!

From here, I continue to train for the full Ironman in June. I'm excited! It is going to be an adventure!

A few really bad race pictures. Racing never has me looking my best! :)

In all my spandex glory!!!

Moab

2009-03-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

I love going to Moab each year for the 1/2 Marathon! The race was held last Saturday, March 21st. I traveled up there on Thursday with my friend, Nicole, who also ran the race. We both took our bikes so we could ride on Friday before racing on Saturday.

The weather was perfect. I did a 40 mile bike ride up through the canyon which the Colorado River runs through. It was so beautiful! There were about 7 of us who did the ride.

The 1/2 Marathon couldn't have been better for me! I felt really strong the whole time and just stayed focused on finishing well. I ran strong and steady. My finish time was 1:46:18, which is 8:13 minute miles (averaged!). I was pleased with that! I came in 29/406 in my age group! fun! It was really a training run in preparation for my triathlon in California next weekend. (picture here - I NEVER look good when I'm racing!)

If you ever get a chance to go to Moab, do it! It is a great little town!

The trek home was an adventure! It was SO WINDY!!! There were times that visibility was zero because of all the blowing dust coming across the road. In fact, it was so windy that my bike rack actually came loose from my car. We had to pull off the side of the road to get the bikes off the car. We could barely open the doors b/c the wind was so strong. We got the bike rack re-attached but left the bikes in the car. A while later, the rack came loose again. So, Nicole reached up through the sun roof and held it on the car for almost 60 miles! Fortunately I had a pair of gloves in my car that she put on so that the blowing dust didn't completely exfoliate her skin! When we arrived in Flagstaff, we ended up taking the rack completely off the car. Not a fun experience! I'm just greatful we made it home safely!

I am beginning to taper for my race in Oceanside. I'm looking forward to it. In the meantime, I will head to Lake Pleasant tomorrow to swim in 56 degree water! Burrrrr......Thank goodness for wetsuits!

Belay on...

2009-03-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

So, if training for an Ironman weren't enough to fill my time, I have also been going rock climbing 2 or 3 times a week. I learned to rock climb when I lived in Utah. I went once or twice a week up there - always outdoors. Now, 8+ years later, I am climbing indoors. It is taking some time to regain my courage on the climbs but it is progressing nicely. I have a very patient climbing partner who helps me when I need it! That is a bonus! My fingers are regaining contact strength for the smaller holds. It is a lot of fun! There was only one instance of 'not fun'. I almost killed my friend, Mark, when he was coming off a lead climb. (usually we do climbs which are already top-roped, which means if you fall, there is no risk of falling far. On a lead climb, you can fall double the distance of where the last bolt/tie-in is). Mark had gone to the top of the lead climb. I had the rope in wrong and there was no catch on the rope. This means that when he started coming back down, it was only my strength trying to prevent him from plummeting to his death. Fortunately, there was someone close by who helped prevent disaster from happening. We haven't tried lead climbs since then! I got a nice rope burn on my hand which is just about healed - 2.5 weeks later! Like I said - it is a lot of fun! I don't have any pictures of me climbing - yet - so I just added a picture of my gear. Chalk bag, harness, and shoes, and a carabiner that you can't really see!

Back to grade school....

2009-03-08T14:27:00.001-07:00

Do you remember grade school, and on to high school for that matter, when you got a progress report every 9 weeks? I used to have a love-hate-relationship with those reports. I loved to see the big 'A' flashing across the paper. I knew I had done a good job. The other letters on those progress reports? Well, those weren't always as fun to see. Fortunately, they were never bad letters (unless you count my freshman year of college - psychology - that was a rough class!), just not as pleasing as was the 'A'.

Reminiscing about those progress reports is actually why I am posting today. I just completed my first 9 weeks of training for my Ironman race, which will be in June! I can't believe how quickly the time has passed! I suppose not all weeks have passed as quickly as others, but it is 9 weeks any way you slice it. To give you an idea of what my training looks like right now, I'll post what a 'typical' week of training is.

Monday - Run 5 miles/Swim (abt 2800-3000 yds)
Tuesday - Bike 90 minutes followed by a 4 mile run (fast)
Wednesday - Bike 30 miles/Swim (2800-3000 yds)
Thursday - Swim (2800-3000 yds)
Friday - Long Run - 14 miles
Saturday - Long Bike - 60 miles with hills

All my swim workouts are specific to form work, speed work, or endurance. Some workouts I like better than others, but they are all typically about 3000 yds - which takes me about an hour with all the variation in sets I do.

Every three weeks, I also do a progress check with running and swimming. The run test is called a MAF test - or Maximum athletic function. For this, I warm up on the track and then run 3 miles in a row, keeping my heart rate at 153 bpm (beats per minunte). When I first started this process, my miles were each about 11 minutes. Now, they are about 8 1/2 minutes. Heart rate training is AWESOME!!! For swimming, I do a pace test in which I warm up and then I do 3, 300 yd swims with 30 seconds in between. I then average the times and calculate a pace based on 100 yds. I have some work to do in the pool yet, but I have improved!

Most days, I really like being on my bike. I am much faster than I have been (not sure if it is the new bike or not but I like to think it is a combination of getting stronger and the bike!). I have been doing a lot of riding with head winds, so I'm getting used to that. I don't care much for the wind, but I'm getting better at riding in it - which is always good preparation for racing!

Overall, I feel really good in my training. I had one really hard week mentally. I still got out and did my workouts, I just had a very hard time motivating myself to do it. I'm glad I've only had one of those! Since then, all has been well. I feel healthy and haven't injured anything!

I will run the Moab 1/2 Marathon on March 21st, then on to Oceanside, CA for a 1/2 Ironman race on April 4th. That will be preparation for the full Ironman in Coeur d'Alene, ID on June 21st!

One of my friends was down last weekend from Utah to do some training in warm weather and he told me a quote, which I really like (and can apply to training AND life!): "The Will to Win is nothing without the Will to Prepare."

This progress report - 'A-/B+'!!! There is always room for improvement!

I finally found the one....

2008-12-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

I know you have been waiting for years to hear me declare that I've found 'the one'. Well, it has been a long time in coming, but I found what I've been looking for.

Black with a little bit of silver shining through....likes to go for long bike rides with me...not too tempermental - yet...on the right course...has been molded to be a perfect fit for me...is lots of fun to be with...makes me happy!!! I could go on, but you will have to meet 'the one' yourself! I'm sure you will have the same amount of love and appreciation as I have found!

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tada!!! My new Cervelo P2C! Ironman Coeur d'Alene, here I come!

Ironman Arizona and Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T19:16:00.001-08:00

Ironman is finally behind me. We had a great race! I had more volunteers than I knew what to do with, which was a great problem to have! Everything was 'nearly flawless' on race day! I was very happy with the results and am glad that I only have one race to organize in 2009! (we had 2 races this year!)

Just as quickly as Ironman was over, Thanksgiving was here. I spent the day cleaning, putting my life back in order, and eating with Amy's family. It was a nice day.

On Friday, I headed to Magic Mountain in Southern California with 16 other people. (I have gone to Magic Mountain every year for the last 4 years!) Some of them I knew, some were new faces. We loaded up about 4:45AM and drove over to the park. We stayed until it closed at 8 PM! We rode almost all the roller coasters - and some multiple times. One of my favorites, Goliath, I rode 5 times! The fifth time was a stretch but I was coaxed by my fellow riders to stay on the ride. The last three times we rode, we didn't even get off because there was no one waiting in line! It was a great way to end the evening. We stayed in a hotel that night and then headed back first thing on Saturday morning to get people back that needed to be back. It was a great trip! I had a great time and I met some great people!

(I love roller coasters! This is Goliath!)

Now, it is back to life and work. I'm getting ready to put all my Christmas decorations up, too! That is always fun!

Hope you each had time to reflect on all you have to be thankful for and are looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Saviour this Christmas season!

(ps - my foot is all better!)

Yes, it is gross.....

2008-10-26T13:09:00.001-07:00

So, this may be more than you want to know but I am currently battling with a plantar's wart issue on my foot. This is the third time I have had to go get injections to try to make the virus go dormant. I have no idea how I initally got it but each time it comes back, it gets worse. NOT my idea of fun. So, on Thursday, I went back to the podiatrist for another round of injections. They inject an acid called Bleomyecin in to the affected area. The black areas you see in the picture are just where they did the injections and now those areas are bruised. It is very sore and still swollen. I can't put any pressure on my heel. It should take about 2 weeks to heal. That is a killer for me since I am so active. It drives me crazy not being able to exercise. I'll come up with some alternatives until my foot gets better. In the meantime, I am a bit immobile and, if I am up and about, it is for short periods of time. I guess this is one way to slow me down!!!

Vancouver (BC), Seattle, Ironman AZ

2008-10-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I found myself again in Vancouver, BC to attend another stretch therapy workshop. I really love this line of work and have seen the techniques really help my clients. I am tying to gain as much knowledge in this area as possible. Vancouver is a great city! This time, I stayed with a few other ladies who were taking the workshop. It was a nice change from staying by myself like I have the previous times I have been up there. We stayed right downtown. It is a great city, bustling with life, culture, and energy! It was really nice to get out and do a few runs while I was there.

I made this trip a bit of a vacation as well, spending time with friends in the Seattle area and in Yakima. I needed something of a break from the routine here in AZ. It was nice to get away. I loved seeing all the fall colors! It is refreshing in SO many ways!

Next on the agenda is getting through Ironman Arizona, which is on November 23rd. Hopefully I will have something interesting to blog about before that! I am the volunteer coordinator for the event so I am quite busy with all the preparations. I am confident that we will have all the volunteers we need and that my captains are competent to run their areas well on race day! It is a long day, and actually more like a long week. 4 weeks to go!

Tumultuous Waters.....

2008-10-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

i went rowing this morning on Tempe Town Ocean - I mean Lake. Because it is a man-made lake, it has some very interesting patterns of movement. Where we launch our boat, the water was like glass (the picture to the left is right by where we launch - with perfect water!)- the kind of water I always like when I am out wakeboarding! Just a few hundred meters in to the row, the water turned choppy and just proceeded to get worse as we rowed further East on the lake. (I was in a double this morning with one other lady, Helen.) We approached the mile mark, where we usually pass under the Rural Street Bridge. Well, much to my surprise, we had to stop somewhat quickly, as there was a large boat in the way. Boats with motors are not allowed on the lake, which is why I was caught off guard. Well, a passerby told us that there were divers below, looking for a murder weapon. OK - that is not a pleasant thought as I am out on the water. About the time we were discussing this weapon that they were searching for, the wind started carrying our boat quickly to the East. I wasn't paying super close attention, which resulted in an almost-dump of myself and Helen. We ran in to one of the pilings of the bridge - just with our oars, not the boat. It was a bit scary as I had to let go of one of my oars completely. Fortunately, the wind kept pulling us around the piling so we were able to maintain the right balance and I was able to get my oar back. I guess I need some more practice on choppy seas! I really like to row when the waters are calm - and don't like to row as much when the waters are choppy. Hmmm....see any parallels to life in this little scenario? We got back on track and had an ok workout. I did go for a run when I got home just so I felt that I got my heart rate up and so I could burn a few more calories!

Did I really just commit to that?

2008-09-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has come. After 5 years of volunteering, and now getting paid to work for Ironman, I have decided that I am going to race one myself!

On June 21, 2009, I will embark on racing at Ironman Coeur d'Alene in Idaho! I am in denial that I have committed to this! A 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run! Am I crazy? Don't answer that just yet - I already know what you are thinking! I just got my confirmation that I am registered. Wow!

I decided that I have the time in my life now to train for one so I might as well do it. I won't start my official training until December and maybe not even until January. It will be a solid 6 months of training, but I think I can do it! Good times await!

Grasshoppers and 500k

2008-09-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

This morning I was out on a run - shorter than it should have been - but as I was running, there were a lot of grasshoppers. They were quick to jump out from under the potentially deadly wrath of my foot. What I was reminded of as I watched them jump is that FALL is almost here! The mornings have been really nice here in AZ - only to get better! This is why I live here! :) Well, at least a small part!

I run with a nike+ system. This system is one in which I have a transmitter attached to my ipod and a receiver in the bottom of my shoe. With this system, I know how far I've run, what my pace was, and how long it took me to complete the run. It is pretty nifty! Another part of this gadget is that it talks to me! This morning, Paula Radcliff's voice came through my earphones to congratulate me on completing 500 Kilometers! That is just over 310 miles. That has been done over a total of 51 workouts and 46 hours of running! That is a lot of short runs and quite a few longer runs (10 miles or longer when I was training for the 1/2 Ironman back in the beginning of the year!). And to think that is only running - I would be curious to know what those totals would be if I added my cycling and rowing in to the mix!

The Next Adventure...

2008-09-12T20:28:00.001-07:00

While there is nothing immediate in the forecast for adventures, I am already swamped with prepartations for the Ironman race which will be held here in Arizona in November. I am the volunteer coordinator for about 3000 volunteers and the 70 captains that manage those volunteers. It is a big project!!! I start meeting with my captains next week and will continue full-speed until after the race! I'm going to need a serious vaction after this one. Any ideas of where to go? :)

Rollin, rollin, rollin...keep those pedals rollin...

2008-09-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

I survived LOTOJA 2008! This was my third year doing this race. 206 miles, 3 states, 1000 cyclists, one day. The first year I did all 206 miles myself. The subsequent two years, I did it as a relay - a MUCH better option! So, this year I rode 94 miles of the race and my relay partner, Andy, rode 112 miles. It was a long day with a lot of headwind, but we found the finish line in a little over 11 hours.
This is Andy and I at the start line. We are still smiling! :)

The brief recap of the day is this: we got up at 4:45AM so we could leave by 5:30 to get to the start line. Andy rode the first 80 miles, from Logan, UT to Montpelier, ID. I drove the car to Montpelier, where we exchanged the timing chip. Andy is so fast that he was the third person overall to come in to Montpelier. I was 7 miles in to my ride before the first group came flying past me. I had a 9 mile hill to climb, followed by an 11 mile trek up to the highetst point on the ride - at just over 7400 feet - Salt River Pass. I ended my 47 mile leg in Afton, WY. Andy arrived a little after I was done riding. We exchanged the chip again and off he went, again flying past people. We met up again in Alpine, WY, where I rode the last 47 miles. With about 30 miles to go the wind really picked up. There weren't any groups that were riding at my pace, so I battled the winds on my own. It was all worth it as this was our view of the Tetons as I rode into Jackson - - -

My sister, Jane, as well as a friend, came to see me at the finish line. Jane's husband, Brian, was also able to stop by and see me (after he flew in from a work project). It is always nice to see family and to have support on such adventures!

I had a few other friends that did the ride and we were able to spend a few extra days in Jackson, just enjoying the area. I am attaching a few pictures. We saw one giant moose - 8 points on each side! We hiked around Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. It is so beautiful up there!

The moose.
Andy ponders at Inspiration Point above Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park.

At the time of departure from Jackson back to Salt Lake, I was transporting 6 bikes and three additional people - for a total of 4 adults. It took the boys over 90 minutes to configure all the bikes so that there was no movement and no scraping of bikes agains other bikes. That is what happens when engineers are in charge of the bikes!!! :) This was a sight to behold! The jetta pulls through once again!

4 bikes on top, two bikes on the back, two wheels on the back bike rack, one wheel on the back window - outside the car, and one wheel in the back window - inside the car.

I was able to stay the night on Monday night with my brother and sister-in-law (Josh and Allison) in Lehi, before driving back to AZ on Tuesday. I always enjoy staying with them!

It was a quick weekend, and yet so long! I'm glad the race is behind me. My 'old' bike held up but the new bike is even closer to being purchased now! I'm pretty sure I will be doing this race again next year!

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike....

2008-08-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

I have just to weeks to go until I ride in the LOTOJA Bike Race. This ride starts in Logan, Utah and finishes in Jackson Hole, WY - actually in Teton Village outside of Jackson. This will be my third year doing the ride. I have opted for the relay again this year. So, I have one relay partner, Andy, to help split up the 206 mile ride with. I don't really think I ever want to ride the whole thing again like I did the first year! I will ride 92 miles this year, and Andy will ride 114 miles. I get a good chunk of hill climbing this time around, as well as the last leg of the race. We switch off at different feed zones, and will take two turns each out on the course.

For training, I went out yesterday and rode 75 miles. Here is a brief recap.....up at 4:50 AM...on my bike at 5:25 AM...jackrabbits....altercation with a police officer (our entire group was stopped for riding more than two abreast)...over a gallon of fluids consumed...peanut butter and jelly...over 3500 calories burned...In-N-Out Burger consumed for lunch after the ride! I'm one step closer to purchasing a new bike. I don't think I will get it before the race, but it is coming! Here is what it looks like though. It will make riding a whole new experience!!! I just haven't stomached the money leaving my bank account yet!

Do you wish you were there?

2008-08-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

SO many people have asked if I wish I was in Beijing right now for the Olympics. (Because for those of you who don't know, I was at the Olympics in SLC and Athens to do massage!) My response...it would have been a great opportunity to go, but I'm OK that I didn't go. My summer has been so busy that adding a trip to China would have really been tricky. However, I HAVE been watching at least part of the Olympic coverage every night. It is just amazing how talented these athletes are! They work SO hard and are so committed to their goals.

Do we have the same commitment to succeed in our endeavors? I attended a fireside last night and one small piece of it was about the fact that Believing is a choice we make. What do we believe in? What choices are we making to support our beliefs? The last question posed at the end of the fireside was, 'Do we believe we can succeed'? Think about it. There are so many facets to life. Do we believe that we can succeed? I do!!!

There's no place like home!

2008-08-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

So, I have been gone for the better part of 2 weeks, visiting Utah, Idaho, (a brief jaunt to Wyoming), and then to Colorado. I was in UT/ID to join my youngest sister, Kelli, as she went through the temple for the first time. It was great to be there with her, as well as with a lot of other family members.

This last weekend, we had a family reunion in Granby, Colorado, which is where my parents are living right now. We had a great time in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is where the firt two pictures are from. I was the lucky duck who got to put on the fur coat and sweet hat! We also went to a beautiful area called Monarch Lake. It was great! The family outing was a nice hike around a portion of the lake. It was really beautiful! Everyone had a great time! We are only hoping that the three youngest siblings who weren't there this weekend, can join us next year for our family reunion! I love being in the mountains! It is always so refreshing and therapeutic!

The other thing I love is being an Aunt! I had a great time with the nieces and nephews this weekend! They are so much fun! (third picture!)

Now, I am home for about 3.5 weeks before heading out to Utah again for my bike race! I love to travel but it is nice to be home and sleeping in my own bed again! :) Here are a few more pics from the weekend!

My dad and brothers ran around part of Monarch Lake while the others hiked! It was so beautiful!!!

More of my fun nieces and nephews - at the continental divide in RMNP!

Recap the last adventure...

2008-07-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

So, I've been back in AZ for about 7 days and I am packed and ready to leave again tomorrow. However, I didn't want to get any further behind so here are some photos from my last trip - which was to Lake Placid, NY. I have fully dried out in the HOT AZ sun after all tha rain in NY!

14 year old girl prepares for her jump! She went the furthest of the three jumpers we watched. They land on an astro-turf like surface in the summer months when there is no snow. This jump was from the 90-meter tower! Better her than me!

and....the jump. We were told that these jumpers are never more than 15ft off the ground at any time!

A picture of the Adirondack Mountains. Despite all the rain, it really is a beautiful area!

Rainy Days and Mondays...

2008-07-21T03:38:00.000-07:00

Well, race day has come and gone. It rained ALL day. It started to rain about 7am, which is when the race started. It continued to rain, with mostly terrential downpours, until 8:30 PM. It was not the most fun day I've ever had. I've never seen so many people using garbage bags for rain gear before! Fortunate for me, I had packed a travel umbrella with me as well as a rain jacket. Those came in handy!

Now, it is Monday and I really never made it to bed last night. I napped for about 2.5 hours before my phone rang saying that the master DVD was ready to burn. So, I have been up all night monitoring the DVD burners and stuffing the finished ones in to DVD cases. I can barely keep my eyes open as I type this. I do have relief coming in just over an hour to take over for a bit. Then, I can go back to my condo and sleep! Yeah!

Looks like the sun is out for at least this morning....and that is a great way to start Monday!

Until next time....

a new chapter of communication...

2008-07-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am starting this thing called blogging! I'll add more soon - I promise! I am in Lake Placid, NY right now for the Ironman race. I have some great pictures to post when I get home!

It is here that I will do my best to keep everyone up to speed as to where in the world I am an what I am doing!

:)